DETROIT -- Days after the NHL stated its belief that Jiri Hudler is contractually obligated to the Detroit Red Wings, the president of Russia's Kontinental Hockey League apparently conceded that the 25-year-old forward's future remains in question.

KHL president Alexander Medvedev told Russia's Sport-Express that his league would wait for Hudler's potential salary arbitration hearing July 30 before registering the two-year, $10 million (tax-free) contract he signed July 8 with Moscow Dynamo.

According to a New York Times translation of the article, Medvedev vowed to work with the International Ice Hockey Federation to uphold the "gentleman's agreement" between the NHL and KHL not to poach players.

Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said he did not know how to interpret the story. He spoke with Hudler's agent, Petr Svoboda, on Thursday. They will continue talking in hopes of reaching a deal and avoiding arbitration.

"I've spoken to the National Hockey League. They're trying to get in communication with the Russian league," Holland said. "We'd been told to continue with the arbitration process, either negotiate a deal or prepare for the hearing."

Getting a deal done with Hudler would not necessarily prevent him from playing in Russia, but it would allow the Red Wings to retain his rights if and when he returned to the NHL. Detroit's last offer to Hudler was for five years at $15 million.

Holland said he would like to avoid the club's first arbitration hearing in 14 years, but added, "This is a completely different set of circumstances. In every other (arbitration) case, the player had every intention of signing a contract and putting on a Red Wings uniform in September. In this case, Jiri intends on playing in Russia."

Holland said if the case goes to arbitration, he will ask for a two-year award. If it is more than the Red Wings want to pay, they can "walk away" from it and lose his rights, receiving no compensation. But that is highly unlikely.

"I don't foresee any situation where we'd walk away, but I have to see what the award is," Holland said.

If Hudler returns to the Red Wings, they will be over the $56.8 million salary cap and would need to trim some salary before the start of the regular season.

If that happens, Holland said Hudler would be welcomed back, with no hard feelings about his desire to leave.

"I know Jiri is very proud to be a Red Wing," Holland said. "When you get the opportunity to double, triple, quadruple your salary, sometimes you don't want to leave, but financially you feel you have to do it. I believe that's the case."

Not knowing whether Hudler will return is preventing Holland from pursuing free agents. The Red Wings need one or two more forwards to fill out their roster.

"I'm sitting tight for a few days, maybe more than a few days," Holland said. "I'm going day to day."

Holland said the Red Wings are not involved in the NHL's decision to contest Hudler's KHL contract.

The league says Hudler is obligated to play in the NHL next season because he filed for salary arbitration July 5. It has asked the IIHF to deny Hudler an International Transfer Card.